Dinner Party Disaster: How Street Food Saved the Night
By Lokanath Mishra:
Manisa, Anita, Ranju, and Mita had been batchmates and close friends for decades. Despite being in their early sixties, they all looked remarkably youthful and vibrant. Their friendship had stood the test of time, and they made it a point to meet every month at a different restaurant, enjoying good food and warm company.
Their husbands were also good friends, with Anita’s husband being a successful businessman, while the others were retired pensioners. During their monthly get-togethers, the friends would often share stories, laughter, and memories, strengthening their bond.
However, a peculiar dynamic had developed over time. Whenever they dined out, Manisa, Ranju, and Mita would always pay for their own meals, while Anita would consistently avoid paying. Her frugal nature had become a running joke among the friends, but it also started to feel a bit unfair to the others.
Despite this quirk, their friendship remained strong, and they continued to cherish their monthly gatherings. The others might have occasionally teased Anita about her thriftiness, but deep down, they valued their friendship more than any amount of money.
Their story highlights the importance of friendship and the ability to look beyond minor flaws, showcasing how true friends can maintain a strong bond despite differences in behavior or financial habits.
However, Manisha still remembers the day Anita invited her and her husband to a dinner party at a restaurant. Anita had mentioned that all their female friends from the group, along with their husbands, would be there, and Manisha was looking forward to a fun evening. Since her husband was busy packing for a pilgrimage trip, Anita even offered to pick Manisha up from home, but Manisha politely declined, opting to take a hired taxi instead.
However, when all the friends and their husbands arrived at the restaurant, things took an awkward turn. Anita and her husband were nowhere to be found. After some time, Anita casually texted that her husband had gone to the temple early in the morning and was too tired to join them for dinner, so the program was cancelled. The friends were taken aback, feeling a bit uneasy and wondering why Anita hadn’t informed them earlier.
What made matters worse was Anita’s casual tone, which seemed insensitive to the others’ expectations. Despite the cancellation, the group decided to enter the restaurant, only to find it was small and the food quality was subpar. Disappointed, they decided to walk out and grab some street food instead.
As they enjoyed their street food, they couldn’t help but notice that each of them had to pay for their own bills, which wasn’t unusual given Anita’s history of not paying her share at restaurants. Despite the mix-up and disappointment, the friends laughed and joked, making the most of their evening.
This incident added another layer to their friendship, highlighting how they could adapt to unexpected situations and still have a good time together, even when Anita’s behavior didn’t quite match their expectations.